A disabled pensioner has had to abandon his housing association home for the over 55s after a large chunk of the ceiling in his living room collapsed.
But Michael Trottier says the disaster is only the latest in a long line of maintenance failures at his flat in Loose, near Maidstone , by his social housing landlord, Anchor Hanover Housing.
Michael Trottier: I’m no wilting flower
The 69-year-old moved into the one-bedroom, first-storey flat at Lakelands, a development for the over 55s, off the Loose Road, 15 months ago with good intentions.
Mr Trottier told KentOnline: “Ironically, I was down-sizing from a three-bedroom property in Regent Close. I thought I would free up space for a family to move in — now I wish I never had.
“From virtually the moment I took the flat, I’ve had problems with damp, condensation, mould and numerous other problems.
“I’ve had trouble with the heating and seen my heating bill rise from £60 a month to £280 a month, even though I am in a smaller property.”
The pensioner has put up with “constant mould” and says a ceiling caved-in in the bathroom that, he claims, had asbestos behind it.
He added: “I went on to have numerous other damp places — specifically four in the front room, and a couple in the kitchen.”
Mr Trottier explained Anchor, a provider of specialist housing and care for older people, did come out.
“They did repair it,” he added. “But all proved to be unsuccessful.”
Matters came to a head on Sunday, January 5, when finally the front room ceiling fell in, revealing damp and black mould on the reverse of the ceiling that Mr Trottier had been living in for 15 months.
“In May, I was diagnosed as a result of the cold and damp conditions with respiratory problems,” he added.
“This week, a consultant at Maidstone Hospital said that I had acute bronchitis, and other ongoing health issues.”
The collapsed ceiling at Michael Trottier’s Anchor Housing flatThe aftermath of the ceiling collapse at Michael Trottier’s Anchor Housing flat
Mr Trottier, a father-of-three and former social services worker, already suffers from a sight impairment and is registered blind, although he does have some vision.
He has been advised not to re-enter his property until full repairs have been carried out and is currently staying with relatives.
He said: “I only took one change of clothes and haven’t been able to get back in to get more.”
Anchor has apologised to the pensioner and says it is “working hard to resolve the matter as quickly as possible”.
Besides the roof it maintains the property is “safe and habitable” but says it won’t be charging him rent until he is able to move back in.
But Mr Trottier said he would be reluctant now to ever return.
Anchor’s Lakelands development faces Loose Road in Maidstone
“They’ve destroyed my health – I have no faith in them (Anchor),” he added. “It’s been a constant battle.
At one stage, he asked for a copy of the company’s file on him and he claims to have discovered the staff had been exchanging emails with “very negative comments” about him, saying he needed to be “shut down”.
“They think because I am old, I am of no importance,” he added.
“They expect me to drop dead at any time and be out of their way.
Michael Trottier’s flat at Lakelands is on the upper floor
“But they’ve picked on the wrong person. I am not some wilting flower and won’t be treated like that.
“Anchor claim to be a charity, not for profit, helping older people, but they don’t care.”
Mr Trottier, who said he had lodged “numerous” official complaints with Anchor Hanover over the period of his tenancy, has now also lodged a complaint with the housing ombudsman.
He said: “I know my problems are small compared with some other people’s.
“There are those terrible wildfires in Los Angeles at the moment, and all the problems faced by those in the Third World.
Mr Trottier believes there is a danger that more of the roof may yet come down
“But we are not living in the Third World. All I want is a warm safe, secure home.
“I gave up my large home to help a family, only to be thrown under the bus and treated as a liability, as an idiot.”
Nicola Butler, Anchor’s operations manager at Lakelands, said: “We are really sorry that our resident has experienced this and we are working hard to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.
“The ceiling at the property is due for repair this Saturday. An asbestos survey and air test were carried out nine months ago and both reports confirmed the property is safe and habitable.
“The heating at the property has been checked and a new heating system was installed 12 months ago.
“The wellbeing of our residents is paramount. We will not be charging him rent until he is able to move back into the property and we continue to do all we can to support him during this time.”